Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-25
A QUESTION OF F1srICUFFs.

The San Francisco Examiner makes ex-
tended reference to the achievements of a
young San franciscan at Harvard College.
A community always takes pride in the
success of its young men, either at home
or abroad. The young gentleman in ques-
ton is graduate of the San Francisco
High School, and went to old Harvard
presumably to round out and complete a
course of study that would better qualify
him to take place in the front rank, in
stead Of marking time with those who do
nothing more.
His community may not have expected
he would pay it what-with every other
mamie owes it by becoming notable in
any special branch of study. 1t had the
right to expect, however, that the great
drift of his time in an educational institu-
ton standing among the foremost, would
be toward intellectual culture and the ac-
quirement of such knowledge as would
benefit not only himself but the race. 1t
is improbable that his friends concerned
themselves greatly about his capacity at
the stroke-oar, or his skill with Six-ounce
gloves, or his success as a heavyweight.
But it is reasonable to assume that they
were solicitous that the business of his life
in the university atmosphere should be the
requirement of knowledge, and discipline,
and power.
The notable success of this scion of Cal
ifornia is chronicled by our contemporary,
and the chief interest that it discovers in
his achievements relates to matters that
can, one way or the other, have very little
if anything to do with impressing him
upon the true manhood of society Thus
the journal named says;
A year ago the Examiner announced the sue
cess of --- of this city, i'll the boxing
contests at Harvard College. The popular
young San Franciscan has again distinguished
himself this year, having recently won the
middle-weight championship of Harvard, and
also the heavyweight cup He also won the
middle weight championship at the "Technol-
ogy games at Boston, which is considered the
equivalent 10 winning the amateur champion
ship Of Boston. He IS still lightweight, hav-
ing won both heavy and middle-weight events
yielding from twenty-five to fifteen pounds to
all competitors. When student at the high
school, Mr.. -- was always foremost in ath-
letics and his success in the East gives his
friends here satisfaction.
We entertain the hope that this hatter-
ing record of the young collegians fstic
achievements is not to be considered as re-
iiecting corresponding neglect of the mo-
tive that impelled his friends to send him
to an institution of learning. 1t is posi-
bic, and we would prefer to entertain that
view of it, that the yourg man is even
more forward in his studies-a heavy
weight, al least, in mathematics and En-
glish literature-and that he can present
as brilliant an intellectual record as that
conceded to him physically. Such CON
junction of physical skill in taking care of
ones self and mental culture is by no
means impossible But if the young man
were the son of John Smith, who has been
long enough in the world to learn the folly
OF excess of culture which removes man
from sympathy and communion with the
world, and the comparative uselessness of
physical skill in the miscalled manly art,
John Smith would be more gratified to have
the mawley accomplishments of young
John remain unmentioned. 1t is not to
be said that college athletics are useless
these avocations, when purely recreative
and not trespassing upon the vocation of
the college period, are commendable and
to be conserved in the scheme of educa-
ton. The flat-chested. holow-eyed, dough-
muscled student is not pleasant sight nor
much Of promise for vigorous, brainy
manhood. Blind worship of study is sell
fish, unsympathetic and idolatrous. But,
while common charity suggests that but
one side of the young mans advancement
has been mentioned by the Examiner, Or
binary judgment also suggests that, as the
best foot is put foremost by everybody in
all such cases, absence of reference to in
tellectual championship indicates that it
Is subordinate to muscular proves. If
it is this that constitutes the most notable
characteristic in the career of young col
legians. it would be better that such am
bilious young men be sent direct to John
L. SuIlivan's institute, if the principal of
that finishing school can be found sober
long enough to put its students through
their PAGES.
We confess to unutterable disgust at
any hitching on of the slang of the prize
ring or boxing arena to the skirts of ven
cradle or junior institutions of learning.
The thing is so discordant in tone that the
idea of mentioning student as wearing
the belt of heavyweight or any other
weight, championship, is more than re-
pulsiye. The college of the future viii be
that which viii consider the possession of
a fstic championship prima Jtdcie evidence
of unftness for scholastic halls and asso-
citation with its inmates. 1t is not so now,